Self-heating sad-iron



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Model.)

W. 8v C. P. K'RATZ.

SELF HEATINGSAD IRUN.

Y c Mmmm/7, .M i

' 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2. l

W. an 0.1. KRATZ.

(Model.)

SELF HEATING SAD IRON.

Patented Aug. 30, 1887.

lnrilllllllm JUMHCOMNM( N. PETERS. Phnln-Lllhogrzphur, Wuhingon. n.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

SELF-HEATlNe SAD-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,954, dated August 30, 1887.

Application filed January 27, 1887. Serial No. 225,676.

` States, residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Heating Sad or Smoothing and Polishing Irons; and We do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speciiication, and to the letters and gures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings represents a longitudinal section of a smoothing and polishing ironl constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig-2, a vertical section taken on line x x of Fig 1,-looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a detail sectional view taken on liney y; Fig. 4, a transverse section through the body of the iron, taken on line e z, and Fig. 5 is a detail view inperspective of one end of the iron.

The present invention has relation to that class of smoothing or polishing irons in which a suitable burner enters the hollow shell or body of the iron and is supplied with the burning-fluid by means of a suitable tank connectedv to the burner through pipes, whereby the iron is continuously heated to the required degree for laundry, purposes.

The object of the invention is to improve the above class of iron in its several details of construction, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,^A represents the hollow body or vshell of the iron, provided with the usual air-holes, a, through its sides, so as to insure freer combustion, similar holes being provi ed at the front end of the iron, as shown. hetwo sides of the body A are slightly raised, vas. shown at b, and also curved to conform .to the shape of the top and bottom surfaces, thereby allowing the sides to be used as polishingirons when so required.

rIhe rear end of the body A consists of a cap, B, held to the side walls of the body by means of screws or other suitable'fastenings,

as shown in Fig. 2, said cap also having air' holes similar to those in the body or shell of the iron,

The cap B is cast with an annular iiange, c,

(Model.)

which extends in an outward direction beyond the rear end of the body of the iron and serves to make a long bearing for asleeve,G, preferably of brass.

Ihe sleeve C upon its inner end is provided with an annular shoulder, d, to engage with a seat, e, upon the inner side of cap B, the outer end on the sleeve having exterior screw-threads for connecting therewith the lower end of a standard, D, which forms a support for the handle E of the iron.

The burner, which will be hereinafter described, is supplied with the iiuid from the reservoir F, having an opening at its top through which'it is lled, said opening being closed by a suitable screw-cap, f. This reservoir may be of any suitable size and construction, and is preferably located near the front end of the handle7 and is connected with the burner through pipes G and H, the former eX- tending horizontally through the handle E, to form a brace therefor and render the handle more rigid and firm, said pipe being connected to the vertical pipe H by means of a suitable coupling, g, provided with a screw-plug, 7L.

To the lower end of the pipe H is suitably con- Y nected the gas-generating chamber I, to the front end of which is connected, by screwthreads or other suitable means, the burner J, the rear end of the chamber terminating in a screw-threaded neck, c', to receive the stern of the valve K, the screw-threaded stem thereof engaging with the interior screw-threads on the neck, and a suitable stuffing-box, 7c, engaging with the exterior screw-threads thereon, the stem of the valve having a suitable handwhecl, j, for turning it.

The gas for heating the iron is generated by first heating the chamber I, which at the time is receiving lsmall quantities of the iiuid, thereby converting it instantly into gas, which escapes through a small orifice, Z, in the burner J, and when lightedwill producea blue iiame of intense heat.

The burner J at its front end has connected to it by suitable screw-threads a sleeve, m, which forms an extension to said burner, and the ends of the burner are hollow and termi nate in'tapering cavities n o, which communicate with each other through the orifice l, through which the gas escapes from the generating-chamber. The tapering portion of the cavity o acts as a scat for the tapering end of the valve K.

It will be noticed that the rear end of the burner J extends into the generating-chamber I, so that it will be slightly above the bottom thereof, to allow all sedimentand dirt to settle at the bottom of the chamber and prevent the dirt or sediment from entering the cavity o and clogging the orifice Z. A small regulating-screw, L, extends down through and into the generating-chamber l, said screw having a small slot,p, in one side thereof,to allow only a small quantityof fiuidto escape into the generating-chamber. This screw, if preferred, may extend to or through the top of the pipe H, or may be constructed as shown in Fig. l, and may be eitherstationary or adjustable, as preferred.

lThe front end of the shell or body A has connected to it by serew-threadsashort sleeve, q, which has interior screw-threads to receive the screw-threaded end or shank of a deflector, M, by which said deeetor may be adjusted in the body or shell of the iron, the flame from the burner striking the deflcctor and distribnting the heat to all parts of the iron,the position of the defiector in the body or shell A being regulated to adapt it to the size and intensity of the llame.

Within the shell or body A are located wire screens 1' s, the former having a hole through which passes the delleetor or shank thereof, and the latter-mentioned screen has also a hole or opening to allow the flame to pass through to impinge against the deflector.

By the employment of the screens above described the heat is more evenly distributed and the screen r acts as a guide for the shank of the deiiector when moved in or out. Upon the under side of the handle E is located a metal shield, N, covered upon its upper side with asbestus, t, to keep the heat from off the handle,the shield having a plate, u, extending upwardly and having a hole to pass over the end of the pipe G, and is held .thereon and against the end of the handle by means of a collar, o, and set-screw w, the shield also protecting the hand from the heat of the iron as well as the handle E, the shield acting as a non-conductor.

The manner of holding the shield N in place, as above described, enables the shield to be swung out of place when in the act of reversing the handle of the iron.

The standard D at its lower end is preferably formed cylindrical and has interior screwthreads for connecting it to the sleeve C, which forms a coupling for connecting the standard to the rear end of the iron. The horizontal part or extension of the standard D is provided with ribs O, through one or more of which passes a set-screw, a', or other preferred means, to secure it to the sleeve m. The opening in the end of the standard D is beveled, as shown at b', and the inner end of the collar O is beveled to correspond therewith, presenting a space between the beveled face of the opening and the bevel on the collar for the air to pass into the body of the iron, thus furnishing the necessary air to keep the flame burning, the size of the opening being regulated by means of the collar, which may be adjusted on the sleeve and held in its adjusted position by means of the set-screw hereinbefore described. The upper end ofthe standard D has an opening through which passes the pipe G, and between the end of the standard and coupling g is located a spiral spring, P, coiled around said pipe. The rear end of the handle E is formed witha recess, c, in which is seated a fiat band-spring, R, the ends thereof being of sufiieient length to extend some distance below the handle, and the ends are riveted or otherwise secured to the opposite sides of a bolt, S, which form together a spring-latch device to hold the handle and standard to the iron. The bolt S passes through guides d, and the lower extremity of the bolt engages with one of a series of seats or mortises, e', upon the outer periphery or face of the annular flange c.

The handle E, which is preferably constructed of wood, is adapted to partly revolve on the tube or pipe G, and has an extension, f', which overlaps the end of the standard D, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, this extension forming stops to limit the extent to which the handle is to be turned by striking against the sides of the standard.

When the handle E is turned, as above dcscribed, the band-spring R is acted upon and expanded sui'lieiently to raise the bolt S out of the seat Yor mortise c', thereby enabling the handle to be reversed to bring either side of the iron into use, the band-spring, as should be understood, being fastened to the handle, so that when the handle is turned the spring will be acted upon. This spring is not af fected by the heat from the iron, and will act perfectly at all times when the handle is turned, the spring also keeping the bolt engaged with the mortise or seat when the iron is in opera tion.

rlhe spiral spring l? produces a tension against the set-collar o through the medium ofthe handle E, thereby firmly clamping between them. the plate a and firmly holding the shield N stationary.

The several parts of the device, together with the burner, may be disconnected from each other and removed from the iron for cleaning or for other purposes.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a self-heating smoothing or polishing iron, the combination, with the vertical wire screens r s, of the sleeve q, having interior and exterior screw-threads, and the deileetor M, extending through the sleeve and adjustable, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a self-heating smoothing or polishing iron, the combination, with the adjustable defleetor M, of the screen i', forming a guide IZS therefor, and the screen s, having acentral opening for the passage of the iiame from the burner, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The swinging shield N, provided with a plate, u, and the collar o, having set-screw w, in combination with the handle E, pipe G, eX- tending through the same, and the spiral spring P, for producing a tension against the set-collar through the medium of a handle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a self-heating smoothing or polishing iron, the combination, with the handle E,

adapted to turn upon its axis, and the ange c, having seats or mortises e, of the band- 15 v spring R, connected to said handle, and the bolt S, connected to the ends thereof, substantially as and-for the purpose set forth.A

In testimony that We claim the above we have hereunto subscribed our names in the 2o presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM KRATZ. CHARLES PHILIP KRATZ. Witnesses:

HOMER P. HOPKINS, HENRY SOIHERT. 

